non-

prefix

also (ˈ)nän,
or ˌnən,
ˈnən,
 before  stressed syllable ˈ-,
also ˌnän,
ˌnən,
 before  stressed or unstressed syllable ˌ-;
 the variant with  is also to be understood at pronounced entries, though not shown ə
1
: not : other than : reverse of : absence of
nontoxic
nonlinear
2
: of little or no consequence : unimportant : worthless
nonissues
nonsystem
3
: lacking the usual especially positive characteristics of the thing specified
noncelebration
nonart

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin non not, from Old Latin noenum, from ne- not + oinom, neuter of oinos one — more at no, one

Dictionary Entries Near non-

Cite this Entry

“Non-.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

non-

prefix
(ˈ)nän,
ˌnän
: not : reverse of : absence of
nonresident
nonfiction
Words from non-

nonabsorbent, nonacademic, nonacid, nonacidic, nonacting, nonaction, nonactivated, nonadhesive, nonadjacent, nonaggression, nonaggressive, nonagricultural, nonalcoholic, nonassertive, nonathlete, nonathletic, nonattendance, nonautomatic, nonbeliever, nonbelligerent, nonbinding, nonbiodegradable, nonbiting, nonbreakable, noncaking, non–Catholic, noncellular, noncertified, non–Christian, noncitizen, nonclassical, nonclerical, nonclinical, noncoercive, noncombat, noncombative, noncombustible, noncommercial, noncommitment, noncommitted, noncomparable, noncompatible, noncompetition, noncompetitive, noncompetitor, noncomplementary, noncompliance, noncompliant, noncompressible, nonconclusion, nonconducting, nonconduction, nonconductive, nonconfidence, nonconfidential, nonconflicting, nonconfrontational, nonconscious, nonconservative, nonconstitutional, nonconstruction, nonconstructive, noncontact, noncontagious, noncontemporary, noncontinuous, noncontradiction, noncontradictory, noncontributory, noncontrollable, noncontrolled, noncontrolling, noncontroversial, nonconventional, nonconvertible, noncorporate, noncorrosive, noncreative, noncriminal, noncrisis, noncritical, noncrystalline, nondegenerate, nondelivery, nondemocratic, nondenominational, nonderivative, nondescriptive, nondetachable, nondevelopment, nondirected, nondirectional, nondisabled, nondisclosure, nondiscrimination, nondiscriminatory, nondocumentary, nondollar, nondomestic, nondramatic, nondurable, nonedible, noneducational, nonelastic, nonelected, nonelection, nonelective, nonelectric, nonelectrical, nonemergency, nonempirical, nonending, nonexclusive, nonexempt, nonexplosive, nonfarm, nonfarmer, nonfatal, nonfattening, nonfatty, nonfederal, nonfederated, nonfinancial, nonfissionable, nonflying, nonfood, nonfreezing, nonfulfillment, nonfunctional, nonfunctioning, nongaseous, nongovernment, nongovernmental, nongrammatical, nonhandicapped, nonhardy, nonhereditary, nonhistorical, nonhuman, nonimmigrant, nonimmune, nonindustrial, nonindustrialized, noninfected, noninfectious, noninfective, noninflammable, noninstitutional, noninstitutionalized, noninstructional, nonintegrated, nonintellectual, noninterchangeable, noninterference, nonintersecting, nonintoxicating, nonionizing, nonirritating, non–Jewish, nonleaded, nonlegal, nonlethal, nonlexical, nonliquid, nonliteral, nonliterary, nonliving, nonlocal, nonlogical, nonluminous, nonmagnetic, nonmalleable, nonmanagement, nonmaterial, nonmaterialistic, nonmeat, nonmechanical, nonmedical, nonmember, nonmembership, nonmetric, nonmetrical, nonmigrant, nonmigratory, nonmilitant, nonmilitary, nonmolecular, nonmotile, nonmotorized, nonmoving, nonmusical, nonnational, nonnative, nonnatural, nonnecessity, nonnegotiable, nonnumerical, nonnutritious, nonobservance, nonobservant, nonoccurrence, nonofficial, nonoily, nonoperating, nonoperational, nonoperative, nonorganic, nonorthodox, nonparallel, nonparalytic, nonparasitic, nonparticipant, nonparticipating, nonparticipation, nonparty, nonpaying, nonpayment, nonperformance, nonperformer, nonperishable, nonpersistent, nonpersonal, nonphysical, nonplastic, nonpoisonous, nonpolitical, nonpolitically, nonpolluting, nonporous, nonpossession, nonpractical, nonpracticing, nonpregnant, nonprint, nonproducing, nonprofessional, nonprofessionally, nonprogressive, nonpublic, nonracial, nonradioactive, nonrandom, nonrandomness, nonrated, nonrational, nonreactive, nonreactor, nonrealistic, nonreciprocal, nonrecurrent, nonrecyclable, nonreducing, nonreflecting, nonregulated, nonregulation, nonrelative, nonreligious, nonrenewable, nonrepresentative, nonresidential, nonrestricted, nonretractile, nonreusable, nonreversible, nonrotating, nonroutine, nonsalable, nonscientific, nonscientist, nonseasonal, nonsecure, nonsegregated, nonsegregation, nonselected, nonselective, nonsensational, nonsensitive, nonsensuous, nonserious, nonsexist, nonsexual, nonshrinkable, nonsinkable, nonsmoker, nonsmoking, nonsocial, nonsolar, nonspatial, nonspeaker, nonspeaking, nonspecialist, nonspecific, nonspectacular, nonspeculative, nonstationary, nonstatistical, nonstrategic, nonstructural, nonstructured, nonsubsidized, nonsuccess, nonsugar, nonsurgical, nonswimmer, nonsymbolic, nonsymmetric, nonsymmetrical, nontaxable, nontechnical, nontemporal, nontheatrical, nontoxic, nontraditional, nontransferable, nontropical, nontypical, nonuniform, nonuniformity, nonunionized, nonuniversal, nonurban, nonurgent, nonvalid, nonvegetarian, nonvenomous, nonviewer, nonviscous, nonvisual, nonvocal, nonvocational, nonvoter, nonvoting, nonwinning, nonwoody, nonwork, nonworker, nonworking

Etymology

derived from Latin non "not"

Legal Definition

non-

prefix
: not : other than : reverse of : absence of

More from Merriam-Webster on non-

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!